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SUMMARY OF FINDINGS

Biotechnology is“the application of science and technology to living organisms (as well asparts of organisms, organism products, models, etc.) in order to develop, produce and/orchange living and non-living material for the purpose of producing knowledge, goods, orservices”.This definition was recommended for biotechnological surveys by the OECD.

Companies and Employees

During 2002, 148 companies engaged in biotechnology in Israel. Those companies employed3.9 thousand persons,of whom 3.4 thousand worked in the field of biotechnology. Theincome of those companies from biotechnological activity in 2002 amounted to NIS 1,260million, of which NIS 951 million derived from exports. Total expenditures for research anddevelopment amounted to NIS 953 million.

Of 148 companies that engaged in biotechnology, 117 were start-up companies or researchinstitutes whose main activity was research and development (R&D), and some of them hadnot yet reached the stage of sales or marketing. Therest of the companies were manufacturingcompanies that dealt mainly with pharmaceuticals for human and veterinary use.Approximately 36% of all companies engaged in biotechnology were opened in 1999–2001,approximately 21% in 1990–1995 and approximately 17% were opened by 1990. Most start-up companies and research institutes were established mainly in recent years.

The survey findings revealed that 46% of the employed persons engaged in R&D, 33% inproduction, and 21% in marketing, administration etc.Itwas found that 25% had doctoral(Ph.D.) degrees, 43% had first and second degrees (including engineers), and 32% weretechnicians or workers in marketing and administration.

Approximately half of all employed persons in biotechnology were women. Womencomprised 44% of the workers with Ph.D. degrees, 58% of the workers with first and seconddegrees (including engineers), and 56% of the workers in R&D.

Labour costs for 3.4 thousand employees in biotechnological companies amounted to NIS 612million; i.e., ayearly average of NIS 180 thousand per employee, similar to the averagelabour cost per employee in industries that manufacture pharmaceuticals for human andveterinary use.

Income, Exports, and R&D Expenditures

The income of companies from biotechnological activity amounted to NIS 1,260 million in2002. About half of this income was generated by companies engaging in the manufacture ofpharmaceuticals for human and veterinary use, about 22% by companies engaging in R&D,and about 29% by companies engagingin agriculture and the manufacture of food products.The total exports of biotechnological products in 2002 amounted to NIS 951 million (0.5% of-

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the total exports of goods and services in the economy). Most of the exports (64%) were toEuropean countries,24% were to North American countries, and 8% were to Asia.

Most of the companies (except for start-up companies) reported that their production takesplace in Israel. Start-up companies engaged mainly in R&D, and some of that activity tookplace abroad.

Total R&D expenditures of all companies amounted to NIS 953 million (about 4% of thenational expenditure for R&D).

Funding from External Sources

The activities of start-up companies were funded mainly from private fundraising, issuingstock market shares,and parent companies (which totaled NIS 528 million). Funding receivedfrom the Chief Scientist of the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Labor and internationalfoundations constituted only 11% of the activities of start-up companies in the field ofbiotechnology. Total funding for biotechnological activity from the Chief Scientist of theMinistry of Industry, Trade and Labor and the international foundations amounted toapproximately NIS 95 million in 2002 (which is approximately 9% of all support that theChief Scientist of the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Labour and the internationalfoundations provide to companies that engage in R&D).

Areas of Biotechnological Activity

Approximately half of the companies indicated that they engaged in the field of humanmedicine; in diagnostics, pharmaceuticals and therapeutics. Approximately one-third of theproducts in diagnostics and pharmaceuticals were in the stages of pre-marketing, marketing orsales. Most of the products in therapeutics were in the stages of development or pre-clinicaltrials.

Approximately 20% of the companies engaged in agricultural biotechnology. Their mainactivities were in veterinary biotechnology, fertilization and pest control, crops and plants.

Approximately 19% of all companies were active in the fields of the environment,afforestation, and other biotechnology, and some of their products were in the stage ofdevelopment. Another approximately 7% of the companies engaged in the field of cosmeticsits products.

Only a few companies engaged in food production processes or in bioinformatics.

Sources of Knowledge

The survey also examined the sources of knowledge used by companies for biotechnologicalactivity. It was found the most important sources of knowledge were in-house R&D and\orscientific publications, whereas professional conferences and professional societies wereclassified as less important sources of knowledge. Industries that manufacturebiotechnological products also classified in-house R&D as the most important source ofknowledge. Other, less important sources of knowledge that were noted were patentpurchases, professional contacts, and cooperation with other companies.